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Re: Going to Orange Bloosom Thread

Yes, I'm in Groveland right on Hwy50. Everything looks good, fair amount of bloom open, a lot of bloom getting ready to pop, and the bees were working them hard. I'm probably just being impatient. I don't have any experience with oranges. I'm doing good on drawn comb so far. I haven't had to get into my boxes of foundation yet. Once they get rolling I would like to get them to draw some deep foundation to be used for splits later on this spring.

Re: Going to Orange Bloosom Thread

I planted 10 cells on the 8th when I checked on them yesterday they had all hatched so I'm hoping to see eggs next week when I go. As the bee flies I'm not that far from Miksa so we will see how it goes.

Re: Going to Orange Bloosom Thread

After looking at the hives today I'm feeling like this beekeeping thing is easy. Couple more years like this and I'll be able to afford to meet all big time commercial guys in Europe for the post Almond bloom vacation!

Re: Going to Orange Bloosom Thread

Checked the hives today bloom is in full swing ( did I say that before)
The grove is buzzing with bees and I'd guess that the last 30% of the bloom will open with in a week or so. The bloom up the road 20 miles seems to be a couple weeks behind. Maybe I'll chase it when I'm done here? I'm hearing other groves are about done.image.jpg

I'm cutting it close on having enough supers I had to build some this week.
I'm probably putting supers on too soon but my lack of experience is telling me its better to be safe than sorry. I'm adding supers at about 60% and checking hives every week to 10 days.image.jpg

I caught a couple swarms!!!
I large one in a Nuc and a small one in a 10 frame. Go figure!
I'd like to think they aren't mine but I'm not sure even though my hives look as I think they should compared to last week.image.jpg

I wish I had more exciting photos to share but maybe it's good I don't.
There really is no substitute for hands on experience and I'm glad I have the chance to get a feel for it. A large chunk of orange blossom comb full of nectar is something everyone should experience. image.jpg

Re: Going to Orange Bloosom Thread

I got the word last week from the grove manager that I need to be out by early next week.
I went to pull honey today....
I really need a honey pulling lesson!
What a mess.
I bit of family emergency meant that I didn't have time to clear all the supers of bees.
I should have left them on the ground but.....
I had to load and go. I got home just before dark so thankfully the hives at the house won't go on a robbing frenzy.
So here I sit thinking about all the extra work I have clearing these supers of bees in the dark just so I could get home a hour early.
Any suggestions...other than doing it right the first time?

Re: Going to the Orange Blossom

I went to pull some hives last night. I couldn't leave until 11 pm but how long could it take?

Last trip pulling honey I pulled 2-3 frames of brood from each hive and replaced it with blanks. Most of them were loaded with brood.
I was concerned about them over heating and used it to make up some more hives.

Wow! Here are a couple photos of some of the hives I didn't take or rather couldn't take.image.jpg

I took home about 1/2 that weren't as loaded as the photos but they are still really strong!
I worried about loosing them to overheating so when I unloaded I cracked the tops.
I didn't get a chance to go through them yet but they all seem fine. It was raining this morning but by 2 pm they where robbing out Nucs I was trying to get into and bees were overflowing from entrances and cracked tops.

Round two tomorrow but I've got a PLAN!!!
I'm going to go tomorrow during the day and break them down (or take photos of them in the trees). Hopefully a can get them into a more manageable configuration.